Album Review

Randy Meisner's second self-titled album, usually referred to as Randy Meisner (1982) to distinguish it from its 1978 predecessor, is a gorgeous country-rock production with a hard electric edge in all the right places and soaring melodies throughout -- all worthy of a founding member of Poco and an original member of the Eagles. The guest players include Heart's Ann Wilson on one duet vocal and Nancy Wilson on backing vocals elsewhere, and the Tower of Power horns. Meisner is in exceptionally good voice throughout, on the slow, ringing electric ballads like "Never Been in Love," hard rocking tracks such as the breathless and beautiful "Playin' in the Deep End" (an original that, as an Eagles song, would've been a number one single and still should've been in this version) and "Doin' It for Delilah," and the ethereal "Strangers." There are pleasing guitar hooks throughout, and the album's mix of raw power and subtle lyricism has endured very well over the decades.